Thomas g



(No Model.)

T. G. BENNETT. 'SAPETY LOGKING DEVICE FOR MAGAZINE FIREARMS.

Patented July 21, 1896.

1- I MN I N T RN NITED STATES PATENT Fries.

THOIWIAS G. BENNETT, OF NEWV HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE WVINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

SAFETY LOCKING DEVICE FOR MAGAZINE-FIREARMS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 564,420, dated J u1y21 1896.

Application fil d January 31, 1896- $erial No, 577,506. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: parts, as will be hereinafter described, and

Be it known that I, THOMAS G. BENNETT, of pointed out in the claims.

New Haven, in the county of New Haven and In carrying out my invention, as herein State of Connecticut, have invented a new shown, I employ a sleeve A, mounted in the '5 Improvement in Firearms; and I do hereby breech-bolt or breech-closure B, so as to have 5 declare the following, when taken in conneclongitudinal movement therein within nartion with the accompanying drawings and the row limits. The forward end of the said sleeve letters of reference marked thereon, to be a is provided with a depending rearwardlyfull, clear, and exact description of the same, projecting hook A, having a beveled face a,

o and which said drawings constitute part of and adapted to enter a locking-notch C,

this specification, and represent, in formed in the upper edge of theforward end Figure 1, a view, partly in side elevation of the locking-block C, which is constructed and partly in section, of a gun constructed in at a pointdirectly above the said notch with accordance with my invention; Fig. 2, a dea bevel c, coacting with the bevel a before 5 tached view, partly in section and partly in mentioned. It is sufficient to say of the lock elevation, of the breech-bolt and lockinging-block that it may be of any approved conblock of the said gun, the breech-bolt being struction, and that, as herein shown, it also shown in its closed position and the lockingperforms the office of a carrier. It is conblock in its lifted and locked position; Fig. structed with a path-cam slot C downwardly :o 3, a view in front elevation of the lockinginclined at its forward end, as at C and reblock; Fig. 4, a detached view in side elevaceiving an operating-lug D, projecting intion of the sleeve; Fig. 5, a corresponding wardly from the rear end of the action-bar view of the firing-pin. Y D, which is connected at its forward end This invention relates to an improvement with a sliding handle D of any approved 5 in that class of firearms in which the action construction and arrangement, so long as it mechanism is operated by means of a sliding is adapted to be moved back and forth in a handle located forward of the frame of the line substantially parallel with the axis of arm and arranged to be reciprocated back the longitudinal axis of the gun-barrel E. and forth in a line substantially parallel with The firing-pin F, also mounted in the breech- ;o the axis of the gun-barrel, the object of my bolt B, passes at its forward end through the present invention being to provide simple, sleeve A, and is longitudinally movable instrong, reliable, and eifective means for predependently thereof. Acomparatively heavy venting the user from prematurely opening spiral spring G is interposed between the the gun in the interval between the falling of shoulder f at the rear end of the firing-pin ;5 the hammer and the explosion of the carand a fixed collar A located at the extreme tridge by exerting an untimely rearward draft rear end of the sleeve A. A lighter spiral upon the sliding handle. spring H is interposed between the forward With these ends in view my invention conface of the collar A and a shoulder B, formed sists in a longitudinally movable sleeve in the breech-bolt. The firing-pin F is limited to mounted in the breech-bolt, coactin g with the in its longitudinal movement by a stop-pin I, 0 firing-pin, and constructed at its forward end passing through a notch F, formed in the with a depending hook which engages with lower face of its enlarged rear end. The the locking-block to hold the same in its highhammer J and the other features of the acest position, and which coacts with the looktion mechanism of the arm may be of any i 5 ing-block to preventthe gun from being preapproved construction. 5 maturely opened at the time of firing in case With reference, first, to the action of the the user is exerting an untimely rearward sleeve in looking the locking-block in the draft upon the handle. highest portion thereof, it is to be said that My invention further consists in certain dethe breech-bolt reaches its closed position be 30 tails of construction and combinations of fore the locking-block is lifted into its closed position, at which time the bevel c of the locking-block engages with the bevel a of the hook A of the sleeve with such force as to overcome the tension of the light spring H, allowing the sleeve to come forward and the locking-block to rise into its highest position, at which time the sleeve is retracted by the spring I-I, so as to enter its hook A into the notch O of the locking-block, whereby the locking-block is firmly locked in its highest position. Now, when the trigger is pulled and the hammer released, the same strikes the firing-pin, causing the latterto move forward, its motion being transmitted through the stiff spring G to the sleeve, so that the pin and sleeve move forward as though they were in one piece; The light spring II is at this time compressed to a degree correspondin g to the extent of the forward movement of the pin and sleeve. The described forward movement of the hammer explodes the cartridge, while the corresponding forward movement of the sleeve disengages the hook A from the locking-block, and permits the gun to be opened by the rearward movement of the action-bar and sliding handle. Now, when the hammer is cooked, the light spring H recovers and retracts the sleeve and pin, the heavy spring being at this time practically inert.

The above description applies to the action of the arm when it is being operated under normal or right conditions, that is to say, when the user is not exerting any rearward draft upon the sliding handle at the time he pulls the trigger.

WVith reference now to the action of the gun in case the user is pulling rearward on the handle at the time he pulls the trigger, it may be said that at this time the sleeve takes on an additional function, namely, a safety function, for a rearward draft upon the sliding handle impinges the operating-lug D of the action-bar D against the inclined portion (L of the path-cam slot 0 in the lockingblock, and exerts an effort to push-the locking-block downward, directly proportioned in its strength to the force with which the user is pulling rearward. This downward push of the locking-block causes the hook A of the sleeve to be bound in the notch O of the locking-block with a force superior to the force required to compress the heavy spring G, encircling the firing-pin. Now, when the hammer falls and strikes the firing-pin, the said spring G will be compressed, and the pin will move forward through the sleeve independently thereof and explode the cartridge without unlocking the locking-block, which will, however, be released by the recoil following the explosion. It will be clear that inasmuch as the pin moves forward independently of the sleeve the sleeve will remain at rest and in the position in which it locks the lockingblock in its elevated position,and hence blocks the opening of the gun, notwithstanding that the user may be pulling rearward upon the sliding handle. It requires some force to open the gun, and it is expected that the force to open the gun will be always greater than the force that is required to bind the sleeve, as described, so that the sleeve will remain stationary while the firing-pin is passing forward through it.

It will be understood from the foregoing that the sleeve and hook automatically operate to lock the locking-block in its highest position when the gun is closed, and that the sleeve is automatically operated to unlock the locking-block by the forward movement of the firing-pin when the gun is fired under right conditions, that is to say, without any rearward draft upon the sliding handle. It will also be clear that in case the user is exerting a rearward draft upon the sliding handle the said draft will be transmitted to the sleeve in such a manner that it will not be automatically operated to release the locking-block, but will remain in its locked position until released by the recoil consequent upon the explosion of the cartridge.

I would have it understood that I do not limit myself to the exact construction shown and described, but hold myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a firearm, the combination with the breech-closure and the locking-block thereof, of a longitudinally-movable sleeve mounted in the breech-closure and constructed with a hook to engage with the locking-block to lock the same in its highest position, substantially as described.

2. In a firearm, the combination with the breech-closure and the locking-block thereof, of a longitudinally-movable sleeve mounted in the breech-closure and constructed with a hook to engage with the locking-block to lock the same in its highest position, and a firingpin passing through the sleeve and moving the same to unlock the locking-block, substantially as set forth.

3. In a firearm, the combination with the breech-closure and the locking-block thereof, of a longitudinally-movable sleeve mounted in the breech-closure, and provided with a depending hook which engages with the lock ing-block to lock the same in its highest position, and an action-bar connected with a sliding handle and engaging with the lockingblock to force the same downward into its unlocked position when the bar is under rearward draft, substantially as described.

4:. In a firearm, the combination with the breech-closure and the locking-block thereof, of alongitudinally-movable sleeve mounted in the breech-closure, and provided with a,

handle and engaging with the locking-block to force the same downward into its unlocked position When the bar is under rearward draft, a firing-pin mounted in the breechclosure and passing through the sleeve, a spring interposed between the firing-pin and sleeve, which under normal conditions "is moved forward with the firing-pin through the medium of the said spring, and a lighter spring combined with the sleeve for retracting the same and the firing-pin, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS G. BENNETT.

WVitnesses:

DANIEL H. VEADER, PERCY S. RAY. 

